X

When cell phones are everywhere (not yet)

Study says half of the world will own a cell phone by next year.

Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
See full bio
Kent German
Is that my phone ringing?

Urban dwellers may think that virtually everyone has a cell phone, but apparently that estimation is far from the truth. According to a new study by Portio Research, less than half of the earth's population owns a cell phone. But, the study continued, the 50 percent parity mark will be reached next year. Yes, that's means half of the human race (at least those humans that live on Earth) will be yakking away.

But wait, there's more. Portio also suggests that from 2008 to 2011, an additional 1.5 billion people will adopt cell phones, which would add up to a 75 percent mobile penetration by 2011. That's a a lot of cell phones; no wonder Samsung has gone into overdrive lately.